SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11906, 2 September 1919, Page 5

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 1. A public reception tq Sir Joseph Ward, the Leader of the Liberal Party, was tendered at the Town Hall to-night. The building was crowded, Ex-Ministers present were Messrs MacDonald, Myers and VVilford. and also Sir John Findlay. Sir Joseph Ward received prolonged applause. He said that for the first’time for four years he was a free man. His obligations in connection with the war had l#een discharged. Referring to New Zealand soldiers, he said they deserved to be well treated by the Government. Referring to criticism of his withdrawal from the National Government he said : “Mr Massey did not ask me to continue in the National Government. That is a pretty good answer to some of those people who ask mo wh}' I did not stay there. I want to take the opportunity of saying that I have no quarrel with him." When the Peace Treaty was signed two months ago, the National Government agreement lapsed. “I want to say to you,” added Sir Joseph Ward, “that there were very important matters on which I was not consulted. Absence of consultstion after the conclusion of the war would he enough to induce me to withdraw from the Government.” An attempt had been made to create “spurious sympathy” for Reform. The Liberal Ministers left their work up to date iu every respect. Bills prepared by Liberal Ministers W’ere left iu the hands of the Government. The Budget and Estimates were complete except for the new proposals of the year, if he had known the Government’s proposals he could have completed the Budget in half an hour. tSir Joseph went on to say that tasks of enormous importance lay ahead. He hoped, therefore, the electors would see the necessity of a strong Government representing moderate elements. When the Liberals left the National Government the Dominion had accumulated a sum of fifteen millions invested iu war bills. Any public men who sought to weaken that position ought to he left out of public life That accumulated money, with sinking fund iu hand to the amount of £1,500,000, ought to go info a sinking fund for extinguishing the war debt. The public debt of New Zealand, after war aciounts were closed, would stand at two hundred millions, with an annual charge to be met of about twelve millions. Sir Joseph Ward proceeded to deal with his policy as recently announced. He said, in reference to the charge of insincerity, that he w r as prepared to put into operation in one Parliament, and the greater part in one session, all the proposals he had made. A State Bank was a necessity. In regard to the question of land settlement, the Dominion must look to large estates for settlement. The purchase of comparatively small properties had simply inflated land values by displacing farmers who had to buy land elsewhere. Regarding profiteering, Sir Joseph said it had been going on iu New Zealand. Parliament must see that trading proceeded on a fair basis. New I Zealand was an exporting country. It would be madness to interfere with the exportation of produce at the highest price producers could command. He advocated nationalisation of coal mines. The Government must provide millions for hons*es to be rented at not more than 10s fid weekly. He could demonstrate that such a house could be handed over to a wife and children iu the eevnt of the death of the breadwinner. He mentioned the need tor fast suburban trains to carry workers.

Sir Joseph Ward had a good hearing throughout.